asia

The Japanese capital will become the centre of the wine and spirits world when the first Vinexpo Nippon exhibition opens its doors. On 1st and 2nd November 2014 at the Prince Park Tower Hotel in Tokyo, wines and spirits from all over the world will be on display before Japanese trade professionals in one of the most dynamic and sophisticated markets in Asia-Pacific.

Wine Victoria believes the free trade agreement with Japan can help to ease the oversupply issue restricting the state's wine industry. The agreement, announced last week, included removing the 15 per cent import tariff on bottled, sparkling and bulk wine exported to Japan.

According to a new Chinese-language report by the China Alcoholic Drinks Association (CADA), the effects of the decreased sales have rippled down the production line, causing some local winemakers to scale down production.

The production volume of wine was 1,178.3 million liters in China in 2013, down by 14.7% YOY. It fell in 2013 as cases of making and selling hedge wine happened in Hebei in 2010 reduced the consumption. On the other hand, the new government took measures to control expenditure on official business, which to a degree reduced the consumption of wine.

A group of visitors taste wine during the Vinexpo Asia-Pacific in Hong Kong Wednesday, May 28, 2014. Vinexpo Asia-Pacific is one of Asia's biggest wine and spirits fair. More than 1,300 exhibitors from 30 countries are attending the expo from May 27 to 29.

A new wine trade association in Hong Kong has been formed to promote and sell top California wines in Asia. "We're focusing on the best the state has to offer," said Alexis Bell, executive director and co-founder of the California Wine Association (CWA), "and we're offering full-service opportunities to interested producers."

A senior Chinese official confirmed that almost half of all the Chateau Lafite sold in China was discovered to be fakes. The president of the Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, Xinshi Li, said earlier this month that the fake bottles of wine discovered shows a very serious problem in China.

Hong Kong Michelin-star restaurant Amber's signature frog legs in crispy kataifi earned the restaurant a place in S. Pellegrino's "World's 50 Best Restaurants" for the fourth year running. But while Amber gets to savor its prestigious win, other restaurants in the Greater China region previously on the list have been knocked off of their pedestal this year.